A book by me?

[nyy26wc]

I am months away from making any kind of decision, but I thought it would be a good idea to float the idea now.

I am tempted to write a player comment book. I thought about doing it this winter and maybe I'll go through with it this one.

I definitely won't do it if half of this season is wiped out by a work stoppage. I'm not interested in writing player comments with only having a half season's worth of 2002 stats to include in the coments.

The book would consist mostly of player comments. Some would get a single paragraph, others would get more. Some players comments would contain statistical charts. There could even be some full lengths studies included.

This could be a really good project. If I go through with it, most of the work will be done during the offseason.

I just have to figure out how the book would co exist with the ATM reports. For most players, the material in the book would be the same as what the writeup would be if he was mentioned in an ATM report. Do I try to come up with something else for the ATM blurbs?

How would people feel about buying a book that has a lot of its material also be used for ATM reports?

[hmrsf]

I would buy it. That is so much better than trying to remember where you said what and what ATM report.

I am very technochallanged and a good book is easier to bring place to place than the pc.

[KCBOOMER]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
I just have to figure out how the book would co exist with the ATM reports. For most players, the material in the book would be the same as what the writeup would be if he was mentioned in an ATM report. Do I try to come up with something else for the ATM blurbs?

For me I would want more than just ATM blurbs unless your intent is just to publish a reference book. If their is some stories to tell in the numbers that would be great.

[Slippery Pedro]

Many moons ago, when I wrote for www.express-stats.com (by myself, not with Rob), I thought of doing this.

Best advice I can offer - - the biggest market for this type of book would be the roto-audience.

Others, like me, would buy because we love baseball - - but, for sure, you want to have something for the roto-crowd too - - - that's where most of the sales would come from, IMHO.

Consider self-publishing too. More control.

[sweaver]

It's a crowded market, but if you are willing to persevere for some years and promote the book, you could make some money off of it.

Self-publishing is a good idea, especially at first.

[nyy26wc]

I don't think I'll ever make a lot of money off writing a baseball book.

The things that I do, baseballwise, all have had their origins in self interest. That's not really a bad thing.

Self interest needs to be distinguished from selfishness. Self interest in merely acting towards one's own interest, while it doesn't selfishness unless you're acting towards your own interest, without regard to others.

I started writing the ATM reports because I wanted a daily sabermetric newsletter, couldn't find one, so, to get what I wanted, I decided to do it myself.

The fact that I have a lot of readers is a good thing. The fact that I can also bring pleasure to others is good. But, it never would have started if I wasn't looking to serve my interests by creating what I wanted.

I formed Baseball Immortals for the same reason. I don't like Cooperstown's membership list and the only way to get what I wanted was to do it myself. The fact that many others like the site is a good thing, even though it wasn't the original purpose.

I created the sabermetric baseball encyclopedia because I needed a substitute for the defunct Fanpark encyclopedia and I also wanted some features that weren't available in that software. While I knew others would be interested in the product, the idea that I could actually make any money didn't occur to me until I sent a copy to a friend from computer school and he told me how stupid I was for not setting up a website and seeing what would happen.

So, the real determining factor isn't going to be marketplace. It's going to be whether I want a whole bunch of player comments or whether I should put the time towards something else. Then, if I decide to write the book, it would be because I want a copy and if I can make some money and have others enjoy the work, that's just really good bonuses.

If I write the book, I can't write it from a roto point of view. Those looking for roto information don't like for my ATM commentary and they really won't like the book. So, I see potential sales audience as being fans of the ATM reports and those who visit the encyclopedia's site and decide to also try out the book.

Also, I'd probably decide for the book to come out as a digital one, like STATS's digital editions. When I originally came up with the thought last summer, out of curiosity, I checked out a bunch of self publishing sites on the web and wasn't too impressed. While the driving force to write the book wouldn't be revenue, the amount that actually goes to the author seemed too low to make it worthwhile. But, the software to turn Word documents into Adobe files is cheap and then people have the option of reading on screen or just printing out a series of pages at a time.

[Slippery Pedro]

Not that you asked, but, I'll offer it anyway for me, the e-book thing has not caught on, and, I'm not sure if it ever will?

I read in waiting rooms, at the beach, in bed, on a bus/plane, and on the throne - - printed matter works much better in those spots. I know I could print an e-book, but, it's just not the same - - probably just a mental thing?

Lee - another thought, which you probably though of already - when you do it, make sure you give comp copies (for review) to Gammons, Stark, Neyer et al - - - - they can have the same effect on book buyers as Oprah.

[moose]

Lee-
I really enjoy the blurbs in the ATM reports, so I think your writing style would be great for a player comment book. I also agree with KC that I would expect more substance for most players than I get in the ATM reports (although your first post suggests such a level of substance).

There are several reasons I would buy it even though I get the ATM reports:
1. I would want to support you, as an e-friend.
2. I know I like your writing, and would want to read more.
3. The nice thing about a book is that you can read it, put it on your shelf, and go back and read it again. Sure, I can do that with my emails, but it's not the same.

Good luck, and if you need any advice on the Mussina section, I'm here [putting hand on shoulder].

ps - I like all the "i didn't like <x>, so I did it myself" stuff. I'll be interested in what happens if you decide that you don't like attempts at perpetual motion machines

[nightal]

Lee,
I'm in favor of you writing some type of sabermetric book.
I think it's a great idea, your way of looking at things have always, not only been interesting, but thought provoking.
The old Baseball City Hall Of Fame beats Cooperstown hands down and you have always backed up your findings and opinions with superb analysis.
al

[sweaver]

The best writers always write to please themselves. Some of us that don't know from nothin' do as well. If you know your audience, go to it!

If I write the book, I can't write it from a roto point of view. Those looking for roto information don't like for my ATM commentary and they really won't like the book. So, I see potential sales audience as being fans of the ATM reports and those who visit the encyclopedia's site and decide to also try out the book.

Not saying you should write it from a roto pov, but as a rotojunkie and a baseball fan, I would have an immense interest in a book like that. I don't think you should gear it towards a roto audience, but you will get some of us who are just total baseball nuts and have to get our hands on everything and anything that might give us an edge in both baseball knowledge and the world of roto.

Good luck. Keep us posted on it!

Something in your tell-it-like-it-is viewpoint would be a refresher.
Go for it.

[nyy26wc]

I thank everyone for their feedback. I'm still not sure what I'll end up doing, but I have to say I'm sort of leaning towards making this is a post-2003 season project, if I ever go through with this. I'm also interested in a big expansion of Baseball Immortals.

In addition to Baseball Immortals, I could also have the Hall of Outstanding, the Hall of Good, the Hall of Stink, the Hall of Putrid Awfullness and the Others area. Some of those names would be subject to change.

[SmedIndy]

How about the hall of "Shrug" for those guys totally on the fence.

And of course, you could use the immortal lines to summarize a player like, say, Mike Lansing upon his retirement:

"Stink, stank, stunk"

[cubfan33]

Lee, may I make a pre-order?

I would KILL for this book. I'm interested if any of your work could be used for prediction.

To me, there's only a couple good books out there in the genre. There's a plethora of usually bad magazines that either rehash crap I already knew or are strictly roto. There's Baseball Prospectus, which is great for both the essays, comments, and WILTON. There's Shandler's book which is as good for prediction but isn't (IMHO) as entertaining a read. And there's Mat Olkin's book. A Lee Sinins book would be right up there.

Just a thought - if you're determined to do an E-Book, why not make a "player comment" section on the SBE which you could update each year or even collect comments from ATMs. Instead of the comment on historical players, you could eventually do a small bio, factoid, etc.